Just three seconds into Tuesday's 4-1 win over Dallas, the Detroit Red Wings forward fought the Stars' Eric Nystrom. And if that wasn't enough, he tangled with Dallas' Brenden Dillon near the end of the first period.

"That's part of my DNA, to bring emotion into the game and having guys feed off of that," Tootoo said after the game. "I feel great. Let's get after it again. I still had one more fight in me. I mean, it is what it is, but it is all part of the game. For me I don't mind doing that part."

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The Wings targeted Tootoo on the first day of free agency and signed the former Nashville Predator to a three-year deal worth $5.7 million.

"We're not really used to seeing that," Wings goalie Jimmy Howard said. "But Toots goes out there and sets the tone for us, whether it's a big hit or dropping the gloves. He got the crowd into it early for us."

According to hockeyfights.com, the Wings had the fewest fighting majors in each of the past eight seasons. And over the past 12 seasons, Detroit has ranked last 10 times and second-to-last the other two times.

"It's part of my game and my foundation is bringing emotion to the game, bringing energy and the guys feeding off of that," Tootoo said. "Now let's get after it Friday night."

Tootoo's scrap with Nystrom was the second time he's fought right off the opening faceoff. He also went toe-to-toe with Columbus' Jared Boll on Jan. 21.

His fight with Dillon, who's six inches taller than the 5-foot-9 Tootoo, was instigated by a hit Tootoo delivered on the Stars' Philip Larsen last week. The rookie defenseman wanted to go with Tootoo at the end of his shift.

"I'm basically trying to protect myself from not getting hit and just keep whaling," Tootoo said of fighting the much taller Dillon. "I have a good memory of what happened last game. It's a rookie move when you ask a guy to go at the end of his shift. I thought we both were pretty fresh and away we went."

Tootoo has 67 fighting majors in his career.

"I was expecting him to get on the forecheck, but he took it upon himself to have a couple bouts obviously and we don't mind that either," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "We just assume he forechecks. He's a guy that gives us a different dimension than we've had and when he's out there guys know that he's out there."

Todd Bertuzzi was the last Wing to fight twice in a game. Bertuzzi went with Nashville's Shane O'Brien on April 2, 2011. Tootoo did not play in that game.

"It's just good old-time hockey," Tootoo said. "I mean, I thought we needed another little energy boost there and that's pretty much what happened."

Justin Abdelkader led Detroit with six fighting majors last season.

"He's really good at getting underneath the other team's skin," Howard said of Tootoo. "It's great to have him on your side, that's for sure."

BERTUZZI 'PRETTY FORTUNATE'

Todd Bertuzzi feels very fortunate.

Late in the second period Tuesday, Bertuzzi caught a high stick of Dallas' Jamie Benn under his left eye and the rugged forward went straight to the locker room.

"I think I'm pretty fortunate," Bertuzzi said. "The blade of the stick came straight into my eye, so obviously, being around and knowing people who've been injured, you kind of panic a little bit, you don't know what's going on. It's your livelihood. I was a little bit worried but our good doctors made sure I was fine before I went out."

Wings general manager Ken Holland said he had not heard from Bertuzzi on Wednesday, so he assumed there was no structural damage.

Bertuzzi said he's never thought of wearing a visor.

"I know it's probably stupid," Bertuzzi said. "People will call me stupid for not wearing it. I played many years and it's a tough adjustment to do. I know it's a stupid comment to say."

After two scary incidents with his eye, Kris Draper finally forced himself to finish his career wearing a visor.

First, a stick glanced his eye that made Draper put on a visor. He later took it off and was hit with a puck on his right eye.

Long-time captain Steve Yzerman also suffered a scratched cornea and broken bone just below his left eye in 2004.

"Wearing a visor might be a good thing," Babcock said. "I'd hate to see that happen to a guy because that could change your life forever. That's part of the game, but a visor would fix that."